Modular Frontage

ABSTRACT

Frontage that includes modules each of which consisting of a reinforced metal structure provided with a mechanism for mutually attaching to the structures of the adjacent modules, sealing a mechanism provided between the adjacent modules and a mechanism for securing the modules to the building. The modules are filled with sheets of insulating material and are covered with wood panels, an anti-moisture paper sheet, a metal mesh for the adhesion of a layer of sprayed dry mortar and an outer surface finishing, wherein all of the layers and the outer surface finishing are air-permeable.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular frontage for prefabricated buildings comprising modules made up of a metal structure reinforced by beams and rails, provided with mutually attaching means and with adjacent floor slabs, and sealing means; these modules presenting a structure filled with sheets of insulating material and a multilayer covering.

Application Field of the Invention

This frontage is applicable in the building construction industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional construction of buildings comprises performing works that are prolonged in time owing to the use of “in situ” construction techniques with the need of a large number of masons and skilled staff, comprising the use of concrete, sand, beams, water and other materials.

In the construction of exterior walls, prefabricated concrete slabs are also used, which are inserted by vertically sliding them between consecutive pillars, performing the closing of the connections by mortars or settable pastes.

Currently the “in situ” construction of walls by forming and fixing light steel structures of low mechanical strength to the building work and the covering of said light structure with panels of different materials, onto which a layer of mortar is applied is also known, being necessary to give the surface a painted finishing.

The filling of the joints between adjacent modules and between modules and the building work is also done with settable pastes, which determines that the outer surface is not continuous, and rapidly appears deteriorated with the emergence of cracks on both the modules and the areas of the joints, due to the contractions and expansions caused by temperature changes.

Shaping the structure with light metal profiles determines that it is lighter and therefore more deformable by the building movements and settlements, leading to the appearance of cracks on the outer covering layers.

Furthermore, these prefabricated modules comprise, for their construction, layers of non air-permeable materials, such as waterproofing plastic materials; therefore they accumulate moisture due to condensation inside the building.

The “in situ” manufacture of these modules further involves an increased build time due to weather factors impeding the application of the outer covering and representing a significant loss of workers working hours.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The modular frontage, object of this invention, has technical particularities that are intended to improve the finishing and durability of the building, with construction operations that are clean and without using water or settable paste materials, thus improving the resulting performance and quality. This frontage uses new materials allowing for obtaining better performance.

The modular frontage is of the type comprising prefabricated modules attachable to the outside of a building.

According to the invention, the modular frontage comprises prefabricated modules made up of a metal structure reinforced by beams and rails and provided with mutually attaching means, these modules presenting a structure filled with sheets of insulating material arranged between the beams and rails and a multilayer covering on its outer side.

The covering comprises wood panels on at least one side of the metal structure, protected by an anti-moisture paper sheet, on which a metal mesh for the adhesion of a layer of sprayed dry mortar and an outer surface finishing are located, wherein all of the layers and the outer surface finishing are air-permeable.

Since the various layers forming the module are air-permeable, the passage of water vapour naturally produced in the interior of the building is allowed, thus preventing it from condensing and forming dampness. The anti-moisture paper sheet protects the wood panel from the outdoor dampness. In turn, the wire mesh provides grip between the dry mortar and the other materials and avoids the formation of microcracks and other signs of deterioration.

Said modules comprise means for mutually attaching to the structure of the adjacent modules, thus allowing for establishing the horizontal continuity in a guaranteed way. Moreover, there are sealing means between the modules, which prevent dampness seepage between modules from the outside to the inside of the frontage.

For fixing the frontage, the modules comprise attaching means to the building, which can be of any type, being primarily secured at the outer edge of the floor slabs.

The attaching means between adjacent modules are constituted by lugs distributed at the vertical laterals of the inner side of said structures for their attachment to the lugs of the adjacent modules by screws. These lugs allow for direct assembling of the modules, without the use of mortar or settable fixing pastes, thus not being necessary to use water in this construction stage or to wait for the setting. Furthermore the coupling by means of screws is simple and facilitates the realisation of quick joints.

In turn, the sealing means are constituted by a flexible longitudinal seal with a “V”-shaped section and an outer flashing having a “T”-shaped section, the flashing being partially inserted inside the longitudinal seal by its central portion, with the flashing flat portion overlying the outer sides of the adjacent modules. This avoids the need for settable paste materials or mortar at the junction between the modules. In addition, the flexible seal absorbs the relative movements of the different modules avoiding stresses between them, and the outer flashing conceals the junction between the modules.

In one embodiment, the outer surface finishing comprises a layer of binder or sealant, a layer of air-permeable rubber and a layer of siloxane covering. This siloxane covering is an artificial mineral, which is more cost-effective than a silicate covering, which is totally air-permeable and keeps its colour without degradation during an extended period of time, avoiding the final painting required by the modules that are built “in situ” and subsequent painting reworks or repairs.

The wood panel is an OSB panel or oriented strand panel. This OSB panel is mechanically stable and lightweight.

The dimensional accuracy achieved with the development of the modules in the factory allows for the subsequent installation of the modules in the building façade in a trouble-free and fast way without coupling problems.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In order to complement the description that is being carried out and with the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present description is accompanied by a set of drawings wherein, by way of a non-limiting example, the following has been represented:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a module wherein different layers are seen.

FIG. 2 shows a rear elevation view of the lateral coupling of the modules.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of the module assembly to the floor slabs with different fixings means.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a detail before and after the coupling of two modules and the placement of the seal and the flashing of the sealing means.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the referenced figures, the modular frontage includes modules (1) which are arranged in front of floor slabs (F) through different attaching means, as shown in FIG. 3, with these modules (1) respectively consisting of a metal structure (2) reinforced by beams and rails and defining the wall of the façade and optionally door or window openings.

The metal structure (2) has on its inner side, and distributed in the vertical laterals lugs (21) for fixing adjacent modules (3) by screws, with the interposition of sealing and movement absorption means between said modules.

The structure (2) has, between the beams and the rails, a filling of insulating plates (4), in this case of rock wool, and on the outer side, corresponding to the visible side of the façade, a covering of multiple specific layers.

This covering comprises, from the structure and outwards: wood panels (51), more particularly OSB panels, an anti-moisture paper sheet (52), a metal mesh (53), a sprayed dry mortar layer (54) and an outer surface finishing.

This outer surface finishing comprises a binder or sealant layer (55), an air-permeable rubber layer (56) and a siloxane coating (57) or artificial mineral layer.

The sealing means, which absorb the movements between the modules (1), are constituted by a longitudinal flexible seal (6) with a “V”-shaped section and an outer flashing (7) with a “T”-shaped section, both represented in FIG. 4.

The flashing (7) is partially inserted into the inside of the longitudinal seal (6) by its central portion (71) with the flat portion (72) covering the junction area of the adjacent modules.

As seen in FIG. 5, by joining the two modules (1) by the action of the screws (3) against the lugs (21), the longitudinal seal (6) is pressed onto the central portion (71) of the flashing (7), thus establishing the closure of the union.

Once the nature of the invention as well as an example of preferred embodiment have been sufficiently described, it is stated for all pertinent purposes that the materials, form, size and arrangement of the elements described are susceptible to changes, provided these do not involve an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention that are claimed subsequently. 

1. Modular frontage, of the type made up by prefabricated modules (1) that are attachable to the outside of a building characterized in that said prefabricated modules comprise: a metal structure (2) reinforced by beams and rails; a filling of insulating plates (4) arranged between the beams and the rails; at least on its outer face, a covering comprising, from the structure and outwards: wood panels (51), an anti-moisture paper sheet (52), a metal mesh (53) for adhesion, a layer of sprayed dry mortar (54) and an outside surface finishing, with all the layers and the outer surface finishing being air-permeable; means for mutually attaching of the structures (2) of the adjacent modules (1); securing means to the building; and in that the modular frontage further comprises sealing means between the modules.
 2. Frontage according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means between modules (1) are constituted by lugs (21) that are distributed at the vertical sides of the inner face of said structures (2) for their attachment by screws (3).
 3. Frontage according to claim 1 characterized in that the sealing means comprise a flexible longitudinal seal (6) with a “V”-shaped section and an outer flashing (7) with a “T”-shaped section, this flashing (7) being partially inserted on the inside of the longitudinal seal (6) by its central portion (71), with the flat portion (72) being superposed on the outer faces of the adjacent modules (1).
 4. Frontage according to claim 1 characterized in that the outer surface finishing comprises a binder or sealant layer (55), an air-permeable rubber layer (56) and a siloxane coating layer (57).
 5. Frontage according to claim 1 characterized in that the wood panel (51) is an OSB panel or oriented strand panel. 